By Brad Belber / Billswire.usatoday.com
Following two highlight reel plays during the preseason, there has been a lot of intrigue surrounding former international rugby star and current Bills running back, Christian Wade.
After coming to the Bills via the International Pathway Program, there has been some confusion regarding exactly what can happen with Wade as the regular season approaches.
The Bills went ahead and clarified today the scenarios for Wade moving forward during the 53-man roster cutdown:
He can make the 53-man roster outright.
He can be put on waivers, which would allow another team to claim him and place them on their 53-man roster.
If he clears waivers, he can be added to the Bills practice squad as a regular member of the 10-man squad, which will allow him to be called up during the regular season (and also allows him to be signed by another team to the active roster,) OR…
He can be added to the Bills practice squad as an 11th exempt member, which protects him from being signed by another team, but also means he cannot be called up to the Bills active roster this season.
Lastly, if he clears waivers and the Bills decide they don’t want to use either practice squad option on him, he is free to join any other team’s practice squad, but only as a regular practice squad member. The special 11th member exemption is only available to the Bills.
While the rules surrounding the International Pathway Program are a bit convoluted, it is good to now have some clarification on exactly what options both the Bills and Wade have moving forward.
Despite his preseason performance, it is still a stretch to think the Bills would use a 53-man roster spot on a guy who has only played in two football games in his life, but with the risk of another team signing him, the circumstance is certainly more interesting than originally thought.